[This is a continuation of Section Two, Reason and the First Person. An index with links to all parts of the work as they are posted can be found [url=https://forum.evangelicaluniversalist.com/t/sword-to-the-heart-reason-and-the-first-person/1081/1]here.]
[This series starts Chapter 18, “Atheism and the Justification of Non-Justification Ability”. The chapter 18 posts, fortunately or unfortunately, will have a tendency to be more comic than the chp 17 dialogue posts. I would say this is a natural result (pun entirely intended! ) of a weird contravening juxtoposition on the part of one of the representative dialoguists. Three guesses as to which one… ]
[Entry 1]
Reed (the theist): I repeat: if we stoutly presume that it is possible for us to reason, then that ability must ultimately come from a rational cause.
Chase (the atheist): …sigh. No, not necessarily. We don’t have to begin by presuming that it is possible for us to reason.
R: What would we begin by doing?
C: That’s the answer: “we” wouldn’t “begin” by “doing” anything. Your argument only works if it is possible for us to reason.
R: Are you really sure you want to go this route?
C: Just listen! It’s true that–
R: True?
C: No, forget that. … Behaviors reflect reality. Yes?